LEST WE FORGET: Plaque at Sacred Heart Church dedicated to WWI vets

In between two of the doors on the front of Sacred Heart Church on Linden Street in the North End is a large bronze plaque, similar in look and identical in purpose to the large plaque that graces the front of St. Patrick’s Church in the city’s South End.

In between two of the doors on the front of Sacred Heart Church on Linden Street in the North End is a large bronze plaque, similar in look and identical in purpose to the large plaque that graces the front of St. Patrick’s Church in the city’s South End.

Both were largely Irish parishes at the turn of the last century. Both sent their sons to World War I and both put up plaques honoring those who served.

“To the glory of God and in honor of the men of the Sacred Heart Parish who entered the service in the Great War at the nation’s call and won for themselves and their church and their country grateful remembrance this tablet is dedicated,” reads the inscription on the plaque, which the parish purchased from Taunton metal works Reed & Barton.

The memorial lists members of the parish who went to war, and a quick scan of the names shows the ethnic makeup of Sacred Heart at that time.

There are 18 Murphys and 27 Sullivans on the list, in addition to a great many names beginning with an “O” and an apostrophe.

The plaque, bearing the dates 1917-1919, also bears the name of the parish pastor who dedicated the memorial. The priest was the Rev. John W. McCarthy.

In addition to Sullivans and Murphys, the plaque lists parishioner Philemon Truesdale, a famous Fall River physician.